Solar panels are complicated, but efficiency & warranties aren't!

Here’s the thing about solar panels: they all look like black rectangles on your roof, but under the hood they’re wildly different. Telling them apart is pretty tough.


However, there's a simpler way to navigate the data, because here's what it boils down to - every manufacturer is chasing the same thing — more efficiency, reliability, and less long term degradation.


HJT, shingle cells, bi-facial, ABC… these are all different tricks of the trade to squeeze out a little more power per square metre. But unless you really want to impress  bore people at BBQs, you don’t need to understand all the different types of tech employed in the race to efficiency.


Industry wide changes in technology mark industry wide leaps in efficiency and degradation gains (or losses  🤔) .

For example, when the industry shifted from old-school P-Type to N-Type panels, efficiency leapt by about 1.5%. That’s a huge deal in solar terms.


Our blog on the idea is probably the most entertaining read in our blog-stack: Why N-Type Solar Panels Leave P-Type in the Dust.


So, what really matters? What should you be looking at?


Efficiency Benchmarks


  • 22.2% or less → Think of these as older-gen panels. They’ll work fine, but they're probably a model that was released before 2023.
  • 22.2–23% → This is today’s sweet spot. Great performance, proven reliability, and most importantly - usually they come at a great price.
  • 23% and above → Cutting-edge tech and generally on the pricier side. But FYI - by 'pricey'- the cost might only be $50 more per panel on your quote. This is because the cost price on panels these days sits between $100 - $200 per unit, depending on the brand.



What Else Should You Look For?


  1. Warranties –Long ones sound nice, but only if the company will actually be around to honour them. Also check the fine print: 84% output at year 25 is a lot worse than 92% at year 30.

  2. Financial health – Shiny brochures don’t pay warranty claims. If the manufacturer goes belly-up, your warranty will be worth less than a Weet-Bix box.

  3. Appearance – Black-on-black panels look slick; silver edges can scream “budget system.” But it all depends on your preference. FYI; Silver Edged panels tend to be marginally more efficient than all black, for the same price.


The devil is in the detail


Here’s where things get interesting. Not all solar panel manufacturers have strong financials. And what really grinds our gears is when companies lean heavily on Bloomberg’s “Tier 1” accreditation. Sounds impressive, right? Except Tier 1 doesn’t actually mean “rock solid.” It just means banks have financed projects with their panels.


For more info you can look at their methodology. In summary, the Tier 1 accreditation is awarded to companies that 'sell lots'.


💡You know who else sells lots? China. China sells lots. So why don't we give the whole country a Tier 1? Might as well throw it around like player of the day at a first-kicks match.


If a solar panel has the Tier 1 accreditation, it means they're “Bankable”… but not bankable. 🤷‍♂️


Take Aiko, for example. You’ve probably seen their advertising. Their Tier 1 status is waved around like a sausage at a doggy daycare. But dig deeper and… oof.


GuruFocus gives Aiko a financial strength rating of 2/10. That’s the corporate equivalent of choking on cough syrup.


SinoVoltaics, a global compliance consultancy, ranked ~60 solar panel makers in 2025 by financial health. Aiko landed in the bottom 10 — right in the “elevated risk of financial stress” zone.


To be clear: the panels themselves? World-class. No issue there.


We’re not here to dunk on Aiko for fun. The reason we call them out is simple: they’re one of the most heavily advertised panels in NZ. If homeowners are going to be persuaded by glossy campaigns, someone needs to tell the other side of the story. Don’t shoot the messenger.


Some notable heavy weights


LONGi –  One of the largest solar panel makers on Earth. They’ve got scale, staying power, and rank consistently high with analysts who actually use calculators. They’ve weathered supply chain drama, but they’re not disappearing anytime soon.


Hyundai –  Their solar division sits under HD Hyundai — the same group that builds ships, cars, and half the machinery in Korea. That’s deep-pocketed ballast you don’t get from solar-only outfits. If stability matters, Hyundai has it.


And many more worth mentioning: Phono, REC, TCL Sunpower, Jinko — to name just a few.


So, What’s the Takeaway?


Solar panel tech is always evolving. Today’s big players are obsessed with wringing out extra efficiency, and the N-Type shift was a clear step forward. But don’t get blinded by glossy ads, sales pitches, or a single “efficiency number.”


A 24% efficient panel from a company circling the financial drain? Risky.

A 23% efficient panel from a long time heavy weight? Smart!


So when a sales rep tells you their product is “the best in the world, don’t buy anything else” — maybe take that with a bucket of salt. Because that's probably what they said about the last brand of panel they sold, and the one before that, and before that.


So what happened to the other brands sold by the major players?


LG and Panasonic learned the hard way that you can't strong arm a TV to act as a solar panel, and expect to make a profit 😘.

And those LG batteries that sold like hotcakes?  Well, they had a challenge with something called 'fire'🤔

If you're feeling brave, google 'LG Chem Battery Fire'.


That’s why we spend so much time kicking the tyres on both the tech and the companies before recommending panels.

Because the real investment isn’t just in silicon and glass — it’s in the people backing your warranty.


⚡ Want the straight story on solar without the marketing fluff? That’s what we do best.


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We’ve pulled this info from publicly available sources and industry reports. Numbers can change, companies rise and fall, and sometimes solar brands look shinier in ads than on the balance sheet. Don’t treat this as financial advice—treat it as a nudge to ask better questions before you buy panels. Our opinion is just one slice of the pizza.

As well as Gurufocus, a report is available from Sino Voltaics supporting the claims made in this blog. A free download is made available in exchange for basic contact details here -

Sinovoltaics Manufacturer Ranking Reports

Solar subsidies - likely ... to hurt your back pocket and stress levels

By looka_production_130270016 • March 19, 2026
Because supply and demand is the guiding principal behind prices in every market...

Why We Can’t Size Solar Batteries Like The Aussies Do

By looka_production_130270016 • February 7, 2026
Why We Can’t Size Solar Batteries Like The Aussies Do Most kiwis want solar to reduce their power bills, and mostly – their winter power bills. And most Kiwis tell us – “We want a solar system that charges up the batteries during the day so that we can heat our home at night.” News flash: Yeah........... Sorry - that’s not going happen aye. Here’s why. Everything You’ve Heard About Sizing Solar & Batteries Is Probably Wrong (For NZ) When you jump online and search about solar, you’ll find information from Bloggers and YouTubers in parts of the world with entirely different energy demand patterns. Think about Australia for a second. 99% of homes in Aussie use tons of power in summer, which is conveniently when they generate the most solar. Our clients often come to us with the idea that solar + battery means very little grid use with the potential for 'off-grid in the city'. In Aussie, that's almost possible! But not here, because most kiwi homes use more power in winter, than in summer - which is inconveniently when solar systems produce ~50 to ~70% less. We’re left with two conundrums: in summer, you can’t make the most of a big battery… and in winter, you can’t charge one. Batteries Should Be Sized According To Your Spare Winter Solar This is the main point. Read the rest of the blog for more insight. ‘Nuf Said. You Won’t Discharge A ‘Uge Battery In Summer Let’s say your solar system generates ~40kWh per day in summer – (typical for a 20 panels system). But your home uses ~25kWh per day. There’s a 15kWh difference between what your home uses, and what you’re generating. So if you don’t need that spare energy, what’s the point in storing it? * Whether you have a huge battery or not, if your home doesn't use the spare solar, you'll be selling that 15kWh for about 17c per unit, which adds a $2.55 credit to your power bill EVERY day. You Don’t Need Much Storage In Summer If your home uses ~25kWh on a typical summer day, the question is: how much of that energy demand occurs after the sun goes down? ‘Cos the reality is – most homes don’t use much at all. After 8pm in summer: … You’ve done the cooking … Used a bit of aircon in the arvo … Your hot water’s steaming … The beers are cold … And your TV uses 100w So on a 25kWh day, your home might only pull ~10kWh between 8pm & 8am. … So, with these rough summer calcs, with 20 panels, most people can only make the most of a ~10kWh battery. C’mon – Surely It Makes Sense To Have A Big Battery In Winter? Yeah, I know that’s what you’re thinking. Everyone thinks that. You get home from work... Crank the heating till 11pm, and then ‘sip’ the heating until everyone leaves the next morning. So of course, you need a big battery to power all that heating. But wait… Solar Sucks In Winter - Sorry ‘bout it. That system we spoke about, those 20 panels; they’ll generate about 40kWh on a typical summer day. But in winter, you’ll be lucky to get 30kWh. But most homes don’t have a 35 degree north facing roof. So 20 panels generate closer to 20kWh per day. And this hypothetical home we’ve been talking about (that uses 25kWh per day in summer), probably pulls 50kWh per day in winter. And of that 50kWh, 15kWh is probably pulled during the 9 – 5. Fridge, freezer, hot water heating, maybe a spa – whatever it is – even with nobody home, there’s still power use during the day. So, shit – of the ~20kWh these 20 panels are spitting out, more than half of it is chewed up by the homes base loads. The difference goes into the battery. And what’s the difference here? ‘Bout 10kWh, if you’re lucky. … So even though the house uses 50kWh per day in winter, there’s no point having a battery bigger than ~10kWh. It simply won’t get charged. You’re The Worst Salespeople Ever No, we’re not. We’re just saying it like it is. In summer, you couldn’t possibly use all of your solar. And in winter, you couldn’t possibly charge a huge battery. But you can still save a shit ton with solar. And the good news is, you don’t even need a battery to eliminate most of your summer bills. Read this . And this . And watch this. But if you want to reduce your winter bills, you’re going to need a battery. If it adds a year or two to your solar-system payback period, it’s nothing in the scheme of things. Especially when you consider the blackout experience. (Its awesome these days)! So, What Do I Do? Prioritize north, if you can. A north roof with a pitch of 15 to 45 degrees is ideal. North produces the most energy in winter, which gives you the best hope of charging a battery. If your roof has some north, and a bit of something else – prioritise north AND west. We love west, because west produces energy until the summer sunset, which is when you might want to cool your home. If your roof is East and West; look very closely at the winter production estimates, because most east-west systems struggle to charge even the smallest batteries in the 3 coldest months of the year. You Didn’t Answer My Question – How Much Storage Do I need? … Sorry, here’s the framework. Subtract your winter day time energy use from your winter solar production. The answer reflects the size of battery you should consider. You could buy a little more, but again – consider your summer evening loads, and ask yourself – do you want to spend a few grand extra (or more); just for it to be a pretty box on the wall providing little financial benefit? Does Equity Solar Brokers Support Solar Batteries? Heck yes we do! We love seeing our clients get batteries. About one third of them get batteries with their solar purchase. We’re not against batteries. We are obsessed with helping kiwis get a great return on their investment. We achieve that through smart solar system design and anonymous quote procurement, which is our leverage to getting sharp solar quotes. Everyone has a different solar objective - and we're all ears. Can't wait to hear yours. In a time of rising power prices and grid instability, batteries are awesome. And guess what – we’ve never had a client regret buying a battery. One client called to tell us they had a 2-day powercut, but only found out when the neighbors swung by. Priceless. Need a hand with system design? That’s what we do best. And we’ll get you the best quotes in the market while holding your hand every step of the way. Chuck your deets below, and lets do this.

What Happens After You Say “Yes” to Solar?

By looka_production_130270016 • January 24, 2026
Before your details are shared with a solar company, here’s what you should know about what happens next — and why this process doesn’t move at Uber Eats speed.